The Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) on Wednesday, February 25, conducted a legislative assessment and one-day capacity-building working session with the Liberian Senate Secretariat, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional reform, transparency, and professional performance within the Legislature.
The engagement, held under the Liberia Electoral Support Project, brought together 30 directors, deputy directors, and senior administrative staff of the Senate Secretariat to evaluate operational gaps and outline practical reforms aimed at enhancing efficiency, accountability, and public openness in the Senate's central administration.
Delivering special remarks, Senator J. Gblebo Brown, Chair of the Senate Committee on Rules, Orders, and Administration, conveyed greetings on behalf of the Senate leadership, urging participants to approach the exercise with seriousness and purpose.
"Let us not come to training workshops just by name. Let us mean it, so that when you return to your departments, you can help transform the Liberian Senate," Senator Brown said.
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He stressed that while lawmakers handle political decision-making, the Secretariat's role is technical and administrative -- a distinction he described as essential to a functional and professional legislature.
"We, the politicians, will deal with the political issues. The technical people at central administration must deal with the technical issues," he stated.
According to Senator Brown, the Senate is prioritizing budgetary allocations for staff training and professional development in 2026, signaling a renewed commitment to strengthening institutional capacity from within.
He disclosed that the Senate has already initiated internal reform measures, including commissioning independent structural assessments, hiring consultants to develop a comprehensive strategic plan, and drafting policy documents currently under review.
"The 55th Senate is open and committed to reforms. There is goodwill among the majority of Senators to improve," he affirmed.
Among ongoing initiatives are efforts to enhance transparency through a more active press directorate, procurement reforms, and renewed discussions around upgrading the Senate's website and digital systems.
Providing an overview of the initiative, Cllr. Oscar Bloh, Country Director of NIMD, explained that the intervention builds on electoral support extended during Liberia's 2023 elections by the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden.
The Liberia Electoral Support Project is primarily funded by the European Union, managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and implemented in partnership with UN Women and NIMD.
Bloh noted that although implementation faced delays due to the leadership crisis at the House of Representatives, the project has since secured endorsement from the current legislative leadership, allowing reform discussions to resume.
He explained that the initiative aligns with global benchmarks such as the Open Parliamentary Index and standards promoted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), focusing on three key pillars: transparency, civic participation, and public accountability.
Recent independent assessments have ranked Liberia relatively low in parliamentary openness compared to regional peers including Ghana, Cape Verde, and Sierra Leone -- findings Bloh described as a "wake-up call" for reform-minded leadership.
"These assessments underscore the urgency of strengthening systems, procedures, and public engagement mechanisms," Bloh said.
As part of the reform effort, a delegation of lawmakers and Secretariat staff undertook a study visit to Sierra Leone to observe best practices in legislative modernization. The delegation examined digitized and paperless systems, improved public access to parliamentary proceedings, and enhanced collaboration between parliament and civil society organizations.
Key recommendations emerging from the visit include establishing and maintaining a fully functional legislature website, digitizing bills and legislative records, improving public access to parliamentary information, and strengthening legislative drafting through research and cost-benefit analysis. Others include enhancing vote recording and bill-tracking systems and improving budget oversight and public engagement frameworks.
Bloh emphasized that donor support under the project will remain focused strictly on technical assistance and capacity development rather than capital expenditures. "We will not fund computers, vehicles, or equipment. Our support is for technical expertise, training, and system upgrades to improve performance and openness," he clarified.
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The working session concluded with a joint commitment from Senate leadership and NIMD to identify priority intervention areas for 2026 and beyond. Discussions will continue around departmental mandates, operational bottlenecks, and strategic planning reforms designed to improve efficiency and strengthen institutional accountability.
Observers say the initiative represents an important step in rebuilding public trust in Liberia's Legislature -- an institution that has faced scrutiny in recent years over governance, transparency, and internal administrative challenges.
By focusing on the Secretariat -- the technical backbone of legislative operations -- reform advocates argue that sustainable change can be achieved beyond electoral cycles and political transitions.
Through the Liberia Electoral Support Project, partners aim to advance inclusive, transparent, and accountable democratic governance by strengthening national institutions and promoting citizen participation.
The challenge now with the Senate lies not in identifying reform priorities -- but in translating assessment findings into measurable institutional transformation.
